Xconomy Report For Nov. 11, 2011

BOSTON — A 2 1/2-year-old company in Boston is advancing in its quest to make commercial vans and trucks greener and more fuel-efficient. XL Hybrids is building a hybrid electric powertrain that can be installed on either existing vehicles or new ones. Starting in January, the startup will begin pilot-testing cargo vans retrofitted with the system, which promises to reduce fuel consumption and emissions by 20 percent. Come June, a couple dozen such vehicles could be tooling around New England roads.